Wisdom vs Foolishness

12  And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. 13  Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 14  The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 15  Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. 16  For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. Ecclesiastes 2:12-16

Solomon was a very deep thinking man. Now he starts to compare wisdom with foolishness. Most would say the two are total opposites but Solomon shows some comparisons.

“I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly…”

Here are the meanings from the Hebrew of the three words:

Wisdom - (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

Madness - folly: - madness

Folly -  silliness: - folly, foolishness.

Quotes:

It is too often seen, that the wiser men are about the things of this world, the less wise they are about the things of the next. ~ John Gibson (1780-1853)

Wisdom prepares for the worst, but folly leaves the worst for the day when it comes. ~ Richard Cecil (1748-1777)

The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate him. ~ John Milton  (1608-1674)

Knowledge is but folly unless it is guided by grace. ~ Edward Herbert (1583-1648)

Real knowledge, like everything else of value, is not to be obtained easily. It must be worked for, studied for, thought for, and more that all, must be prayed for. ~ Thomas Arnold (1795-1842)

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it. ~ Fuller

Findings of Solomon:

·        Wisdom is better than folly, just like light is better than darkness

·        Wise man “sees” the fool walks in darkness

·        One event happens to all (death)

·        Both are forgotten  when they die

Death is one event none of us can escape. Some fear death with a vengeance and try to stop the aging process, others will do many things to make themselves “look” and “act” young. Death is something none of us can stop it is inevitable.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9:27 

We should not fear death, but fear the judgment that comes after the death. What will we be judged on?

We will be judged on what we did on earth:

               Did we accept or reject Christ?

               If we accepted Christ our works will be judged.

               If we rejected Christ, we will have eternal punishment.

The choice is ours, but death ends the time of making the choice. Now is the time to choose.

 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) II Corinthians 6:2 

Will you choose Christ today?

Have a blessed day, 

Donna